Metallic drapery and the like



Dec. 10, 1940. E. A. CONWAY 2,224,379

METALLIC DRAPERY AND THE LIKE Filed June 13, 1940 1 1g 15 20 y 22 1g 12 4 INVENTOR Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES} PATENT OFFICE '7 Claims.

This invention relates to draperies and relates more particularly to novel forms of draperies for Windows, doors and the like which are of permanent nature and may bereadily varied in appearance by suitable ornamentation applied thereto in keeping with the decor of the room in which they are used.

In accordance with this invention, I have provided ornamental draperies which are formed of sheet metal suitably corrugated to simulate the folds or pleats of naturally hanging fabric drapes and which are provided with a valance of suitable length corresponding to the width of the window or door to which the accessories are to be applied. The valance portion is readily adjustable in length or may be supplied invarying predetermined lengths so that it will be of the appropriate size to fit the window or door.

More particularly, the valance may form the connection between the upper ends of the side panels and is used as a spacer in order to determine the spacing of the vertical panels relatively to each other.

'I'he valances are of flexible nature either because of the thinness of the material used therein or they may be articulated so that they may be conformed readily to the shape, for example of a bay window, thus permitting the draperies to be applied to substantially any type of window or door. Moreover, with such articulated Valances, additional valance sections may be inserted to vary the overall length of the balance if the width of the door or window requires a wide spacing of the vertical panels which simulate the drapes.

The draperies and the valance may be ornamented in many ways, such as, for example, by means of decals, by painting or by pasting to the exposed surfaces thereof ornamental papers or fabrics to cause them to harmonize with the furnishings of the room.

Such draperies have the advantages of being permanent color-fast, readily cleaned, sanitary, dustproof and susceptible to almost infinite variation in ornamentation in accordance with the whims of the user thereof.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a typical form of drapery and valance applied to a window;

Figure 2 is an enlarged View partly broken away of a detail of the valance and a portion of the drape illustrating one type of device for connect ing the valance elements to each other;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view partly broken away showing an alternative construction for fastening a valance to the side panels and a bracket for attaching the draperies to the wall;

Figure 4 is a view in section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged view partly broken away of another construction for fastening a valance to a side panel.

The form of the invention disclosed in Figure 1 consists of a pair of elongated side panel members l and H which may be provided with vertical corrugations l2 which simulate the natural folds or draping of conventional fabric draperies and also impart stifiness thereto. While these panels are illustrated as being subsequently rectangular elements, it will be understood that they may be varied in shape in order to simulate, for example, draperies retained by conventional tiebacks, if desired.

The panels I!) and II are, as best shown in Figure 2, provided with beaded or rolled edges l3 which give the impression of thickness to the elements and also avoid the exposure of sharp edges.

The side panels l0 and H may be affixed to the wall or window frame by means of suitable detachable connections, for example the type of brackets disclosed in Figure 4. These brackets may consist of channel members [4 which are slightly wider at the base than at their free edges 16 in order to receive and retain a flange on a bracket l8 which may be fixed to the wall or window frame having an enlarged or upturned edge IT. The channel l4 preferably is of such length that the panels Ill and II are capable of horizontal movement in order to permit adjustment thereof after the brackets have been applied to the wall or window frame.

A Valance is provided in conjunction with the panel elements l0 and II, which, as disclosed in Figure 1, may consist of a pair of panels [9 and 20 which are fixed to and project inwardly from.

.the upper end portions of the panels Ill and H.

The panels l9 and 2|], as shown in Figure 2, may be provided with beaded outer ends 2| and 22 to receive U-shaped staple 23 which joins them for pivotal movement and thus permits them to be adjusted to conform to the shape of the window or the door. This connection also permits easy adjustability of the length of the valance by the insertion of valance sections of uniform size and shape between the ends of the panels l9 and 20. These sections are retained in position by means of the U-shaped staples 23 so as to form a continuous articulated valance of a length suitable to extend entirely across the top of a window or a door and of sufficienlt flexibility to allow the valance to conform quite closely to the shape thereof.

Another form of valance is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. As best shown in Figure 3, the valance panel 24 may consist of a flat or corrugated strip of metal which is provided with apertures 25 adjacent to its opposite ends. The apertures 25' are adapted to receive metallic loops 26 which are fixed to the backs of the Vertical panels 21. A locking bar 28 is passed through the loops 25 to retain the valance 24 and the vertical panels 21 in fixed relationship. In order to prevent the bar 28 from falling out of the loops 26' it may be provided with an upturned resilient end portion 29 which normally engages the adjacent face of the bar 28, but the end portion 29. may be flexed away from the bar in order to permit it to pass over the portions of the loops Z6 encircling the bar 28..

The valance panel 24 can be made of any desired size to fit various sizes of doors or windows by merely cutting it to length and punching the apertures 25 therein at the proper positions to receive the loops 26 when the vertical panels 2! are properly located on opposite sides of the door or window.

The valance fastening construction disclosed in Fig. 5 is similar to that disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4. In this construction a plate 30 having apertures 3i therein is fixed to the vertical panel 21' by means of rivets or bolts 32, while the loops 26' for receiving the locking bar 28' are fixed to the back of the. valance panel 24. The upturned end 29 on the bar 28' retains the latter in position as previously described.

The vertical panels 10, ll, 2! and 2? may be made in a standard length greater than would be required in the ordinary room and may be adjusted to a desired length by merely cutting 01f portions of appropriate size from the bottoms thereof in order to cause them to fit properly.

Inasmuch as the metallic panels and valances have relatively smooth surfaces, ornamentation of any desired type may be applied to them. For example, the panels and valance may be painted in solid colors or with fioral or other ornamental designs, decals may be applied thereto or, if desired, ornamental papers, such as wallpaper and the like, may be applied to the exposed surfaces thereof. Inasmuch as the panels have smooth surfaces they do not tend to collect dust and as a consequence may be readily cleaned. Moreover, such drapes are fireproof, thereby reducing the fire hazard which is always present with fabric drapes.

From the foregoing description of my invention it will be apparent that I have provided a simple, permanent and ornamental type of drape which finds many uses in homes, business establishments, restaurants and the like.

While only two forms of the invention have been illustrated, it will be understood that the shape and the form of the drapes may be suitably altered as the purpose demands without departing from the invention. Therefore, the forms of the invention disclosed should be considered as illustrative, only, and not as limiting the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Door and Window draperies comprising vertical metallic panel members adapted to be disposed on opposite sides of a window, a valance panel disposed between the upper ends of said vertical panels, means detachably connecting said valance and said vertical panels and means on said vertical panels for connecting them to a wall to maintainv them in upright position.

2. Door and window draperies comprising elongated metal panels. having corrugations therein simulating the folds of fabric draperies, a valance panel interposed between the upper ends of said. elongated panels, and means detachably connecting said valance panel to said elongated panels whereby said valance panel. is. supported by saidv elongated panels.

3. Door and window draperies comprising elongated metal panels having. corrugations therein, means on said panels for fixing. said panels to a wall in vertical position, and an articulated metal valance .joined to and interposed between the upper ends of said. panels.

4. Door and window draperies comprising elongated metal panels corrugated to simulate the folds in fabric draperies, means on said panels for detachably suspending. them from a wall, a flexible metallic valance bendable to conform to the. shapes of such doors and windows joining the upper ends of said panels.v

5. Door and window draperies comprising elongated metal panels having longitudinal corrugations simulating the folds in fabric draperies, brackets on the rear of said panels adapted to detachably receive cooperating bracket elements fixed to a wall to suspend said panels in vertical position and a flexible metal valance connected to the upper end portions of and supported by said elongated metal panels.

6. Door and window draperies comprising a pair of elongated metal panels having longitudinal corrugations simulating the folds of fabric draperies, valance panel sections having free inner ends joined to the ends of said elongated panels, means flexibly connecting the said free inner ends of. said valance sections and means for detachably suspending said elongated panels from a Wall.

7. Door and window draperies comprising a pair of elongated metal panels having longitudinal corrugations simulating the folds of fabric draperies, means for suspending said panels in vertical parallel relationship from a wall, a metal valance extending between the upper ends of said elongated panels, and means detachably connecting said valance to said vertical panels.

EVELYN ALVORD CONWAY. 

